Just Read Recent OH Article

I'll be cheering for you! I hear you on the down times. I'm going to have them coming and it scares me.

Hi Liz,

As everyone has shared, I am sure these are the "numbers" reflective of the masses. That being said it's not a given, don't let it! WE are in control and WE know what to do to lose weight, hit goal and stay there. I am sure you all are sick of reading this but just in case some new members are here. I want to share one more time~

I surpassed my surgeon's goal, loss over 200 pounds, kept it off for over 10 years, and recently defeated regain. So.......you know what to do, how to do it and if not we are all here to remind you

Dare I think that people who stay active in support (including OH) do better than "expected"? I hope so. I do find it is easier to admit when I have strayed here because there is so much understanding. You guys know exactly how those cookies make it into our mouths if left in plain sight (and provide suggestions to get back on track)!

I think so. My clinic is a teaching and research centre and shared the same stats as the article (ish) but also included that the research shows that those whith ongoing support fare better than those who don't.

Another area was physical exercise. While not super helpful for weight loss, it's shown to be very helpful at maintaining weight loss. (Plus all the other good reasons to exercise)

the third was no drinking with and 30 mins after meals.

My surgeon shared a study on just this topic. Those who stay active in postop support do much better than those who don't. It's one of the many reasons I'm here.

I asked him which came first -- do people regain, get embarrassed, and quit support? Or do they quit support and then regain?

He said they don't know enough to say anything about causation. But the correlation is clear.

A very, very frequent theme on OH over the years begins with "Hi guys! I don't know if any of you remember me. I used to post everyday, but it's been a while, and I've gained xx pounds."

That's not going to be me.

The third part of the frequent post is h "Hi guys! I don't know if any of you remember me. I used to post everyday, but it's been a while, and I've gained xx pounds."

AND I have to lose it in 3 weeks because I have a wedding/graduation/reunion, etc.

Life happens, we lose focus, old habits can come back, Catch it early.

I agree with all of the above...

When I had my surgery the "expected" goal for me was 60-70 percent loss of my "excess weight". That would mean I am already done----NO WAY. I want to be at a healthy weight for once in my life. I'm assuming the use of "expected" is referring to averages/means. None of these represent the individual experience. They are only a way to give an overall picture of outcomes.

I'll take in all the advice I can because I want to be prepared for all the little sneaky missteps I could take. That way I can avoid the "expected" outcome.

Thank you OH friends for putting it in perspective (always)!

Just the fact that it could happen/is expected etc scares the living sh#% out of me. I hope I remember these words so I keep myself in check. I don't feel those words give me permission, they give me motivation to not fall into that situation. But hmm i'm only 8 months out, let's see in a few years. Yikes

Thanks for posting this, Liz. Today, and all the previous times... and to everyone who has talked about this exact topic today and previously.

I am in the pre-approval stage (it's a bit different in Canada I think), and had an appointment recently with the social worker at the hospital. She was "helping" me set a weight loss goal (way higher than is acceptable to me), and after she told me a ballpark goal, told me I can expect to regain X amount of weight.

I can promise you, if I didn't have all of you, I would have 1- been depressed by the goal, and 2- given myself permission to regain weight. But as I sat there, smiling and nodding, I thought of all of you, and how I've read so many times here that people who have this level of support consistently lose more weight and have less/no regain. Easy? No! I read those posts too!

So thank you for this post... and all the posts. I will keep smiling and nodding at what she believes is her truth, because if I argue, I may not get approved, and I will keep coming here and create the reality I want for myself.